There is an idiom in Japanese—“shokuyoku no aki”—which means autumn is the season of eating. Just as bears and squirrels consume large quantities of food in preparation for the cold winter, we also instinctively tend to increase our appetite during this time of year.
There is a variety of autumn foods you can enjoy in Japan, including sweet potatoes (my favorite!), matsutake mushrooms, chestnuts and persimmons. Everywhere you go, including cafes, grocery stores, and restaurants, you will find many of these ingredients prepared in a range of ways–from drinks to desserts–to help you to enjoy this glorious season to the fullest.